Save Our Berea guards against illegal building

SAVE Our Berea (SOB) has committed itself to the 'fight' against illegal building and alterations on the Berea, by highlighting two properties where it claims building is not progressing according to approved plans.

Members of the group are looking into issues at 164 St Thomas Road and 121 Stephen Dlamini Road.

In St Thomas Road, SOB has contacted the municipality regarding alterations to the house to find out why plans were not submitted to Amafa for approval.

According to Ros Devereux, head of the Built Environment Section of AMAFA, the building had been damaged by fire and while the owner was repairing it he put in an application to Amafa in November 2012 to alter the building by introducing modern elements, notably a double volume window in the gable and plaster bands under the eaves and around the windows on the enclosed verandas.

“The application was referred back for more information and revision of the proposal. The application process has not been completed to date and the original application has lapsed. It is not a listed building but is generally protected due to its age. The original plans are dated April 1928, but it forms part of a group of similar buildings on that side of the road, hence the referral for revisions of the proposal,” she said.

Devereux said, as with other buildings in the street, the verandas had been enclosed before work started, and said it would appear that many of the proposed alterations had been omitted in line with revisions that Amafa had called for.

“I would need to go on site to confirm that this is the case. I also need to ascertain from the Building Inspectorate as to why work continued without Amafa approval,” said Devereux.

At 121 Stephen Dlamini Road, Cheryl Johnson from SOB believed alterations were being undertaken without approved plans.

“Currently the owners of this property, Sandir Hargoon and Nasa Narot are applying for special consent to convert the building into offices. Approval was granted but a neighbour has taken the matter on appeal. Last week a one metre wall was built on an existing wall belonging to 123 Stephen Dlamini. The owner of 123 was not approached for permission for a wall to be built on top of his wall and construction is without his knowledge,” she said.

She said since taking transfer of this listed and protected property zoned Single Residential 15 in late 2010, the owners had breached the city-bylaws and violated heritage body, AMAFA’s regulations for the protection of heritage homes. She said they carried out illegal alterations without approved plans and deviated from AMAFA’s original approved plans.

“As recently as last week they were building without approved plans or AMAFA permission. We understand their application for conversion into offices was opposed by neighbours but their application was approved by council even though it was clear that Cawood Lane was not able to support two driveways and increased traffic from this site. The process is now on appeal,” said Johnson.

Devereux said AMAFA had recently renewed a permit that was first issued in July 2010 for the repairs to the veranda and balcony, paving the parking area and alterations at the rear of the house in line with the alterations to the next door semi-detached building and some minor internal alterations for the change of use of a portion of the house to accommodate a small business.

Owner, Sandir Hargoon, said special consent had already been granted and all relevant parties were notified by registered mail.

“Notices were placed on the property in January and are still there. I'm now attending to paving and security issues,” he said.

Save Our Berea said it was important for the public to be on the alert for public notices attached to the front of a building where alterations, demolition or rezoning was being applied for.

“Owners of a property are required by law to display a notice giving the deadline for the objection to be lodged and where to lodge it. For the best possible outcome in future, lodge your objections with the municipality and Amafa before the deadline. Save Our Berea is not against development on the Berea, but it must be managed responsibly. At the moment we don’t believe our municipality is on top of it and this is why we have called for the re-instatement of an Elevation Control Committee made up of experts who can assess plans and give professional advice on all new developments on the Berea,” said Johnson.